StacieM

Headaches? I thought I have been hit over the head with a bat. I feel sluggish and irritable... and this is only day one. pardon my french but what the HELL and I gonna do on day 3? :help: I made canned raviolis for my daughter since I didn't want to cook... I just wanted to stick my whole hand in the can and wipe it clean and lick it up! I have to have strength right? I was reading all over the boards about which docs required pre-op liquid diets or low carb diets and so on... it was hard to see all those who could eat but i know my doc told me that to get a great jump start on the weight loss this was the way! So here I am. By the way I am drinking a canned Protein shake right now from Trader Joes made by Worldwide its called Pure Protein, 35 grams of protein, 2 carbs... in Vanilla creme... not too bad. Not as "chalky", My DexH told me Protein shakes are meant to be sipped... which is how i usually drink everything. he told me to just down as much as I could. So I am trying that way too. Ok off to finish my lovely Vanilla Creme yummy shake!:faint::hungry::whoo:

Ok as one who stayed away from slim fast... which type.. not flavor, but there are so many types now....

I never knew how good low sodium instant chicken broth could taste. I am not even through day one and going nuts. I can do this... I keep thinking... wow my before and after pics will be different from even today to surgery day... I should see some weight loss there right? I hope so! Does anyone know if there is steak broth? Not beef broth... I want steak and potatoe broth... ah man I guess it will be another shake... And speaking of shakes... are the premade ones less chalky?

My Dr has me on a 2 week pre-op liquid Protein diet....

Hello there, I had joined a group last month that was August Bandsters but can't find it and have been without a computer for a few weeks... so here I am. Right now I am a self pay but have my fingers crossed that my insurance will kick in. That would mean a change of surgery date but to save $9000 thats ok with me. As of now I am using Dr Owens a US Dr who does surgery in MX then follow up care in los angeles. Best deal for me. I started pre-op diet today and already feel like crap. I am tired, headache, cranky and HUNGRY. The Dr gave me phentermine to take to curb the cravings but I guess I am trying to be "good" and didnt take the pills. Needless to say I am struggling today I hope it gets easier! I too am going through the ups and downs of should I do this or not. I know in the long run that i will do it and I need to do it. But I am scared of the life changes. And right now I jsut want a steak!:hungry:

Penni thanks for sharing. I have read alot of your postings and even pm'd you. I do respect your opinions. I will say that the only reason I am even considering the surgery there is because Dr Owens does it with him and then follows you up here in LA. Allows me the cheaper price for cash surgery but yet the close USA follow up care. BUT the better news is I might be getting insurance approval which means surgery here by Dr Owens in a local hospital.... :clap2:

I am glad that you were successful as well as your hubby and friend. But you have to remember the majority of us on these boards and lost weight before and ended up putting it back on. We want to end the yo-yo effect. And most of us have to lose as much or not more than you,k your husband and friend all put together!

Who is your doctor?

Inusurance companies rarely cover preventative care. I an even remember 15-20 years ago they would not cover birth control pills if they werent to treat another problem in a female. A pregnancy costs alot more!

I would double check about your insurance. It may differ state to state but there are lots of people on the boards with Kaiser and they covered their lap bands. Go to the insurance forum and check it out.... good luck!

Hi there, right now I am a self pay but after seeing the WL Dr he found possiblibty of sleep apnea as well as hiatel hernia... either of these can qualify me for WLS thru insurance. Have a consult if you can with a WLSuergeon they have better ideas than the PCP

I just did mine at Trying To Conceive Ticker and they have it all setup its dummy proof. Just choose weight loss (or whatever you want on there) and it gives you a code that you copy and paste into your signature and there ya go....:whoo:

Sooverit I am with you on the daughter thing. I have not told my kids, they just know mommy is on a liquid diet and my almost 8 year old daughter wants to do Protein shakes with me. I am ok with her having one, in fact my dr said it would be ok for her and might help with her hunger. But i am worried what she might do or think about the surgery. She already said she didn't want mom to be skinnier than her. Any ideas from you or anyone on how to deal with the overweight child while we go thru this process?:help:

Ok so I am just starting liquid pre-op so I can feel for you. Of coarse now i am scared that i won't last that long! Did you diet pre-op?? GOOD LUCK....

I forgot to wish you luck Chrissy. I will keep you in my prayers and alook foward to hearing how it all goes!:clap2:

I feel pretty condfident with the fact that Dr Owens is doing the surgery just assisted my Dr Lopez. Dr. Owens has done I beleive almost 500 in the states here. I am confident in him! I will ask more about Dr Lopez... problem is there is 2 or 3 different Lopez docs in mX....

Good idea about chewing on ice. I don't see why you can't blend the shakes for variety. My doc has me using the Protein powder mixed with either non fat milk, light sugar free juices, flat diet soda, broth, V8, coffee (no sugar) and I can add flavors with the imitation flavored extracts. They do make it tasty.

Hi Moneylady... my understanding the biggest reason for the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver since it is in the area they do surgery. I know those who have a fatty liver need to shrink even more. My Dr did say he likes to jump start the weight loss with the luquid diet and suggest going as long as you can. Said that the band will help you keep it off. I tried to start early but well it didn't happen so here I am day 1. I am already HUNGRY! Oh well I will get thru it. Anyways you might call your Dr and ask about the shrinking the liver thing! Good luck!

I am with you in this one... I am liquid Protein shakes only. I get 5 a day, but they are home made. What slimfast are you using? I am wondering, you mentioned chewing... can we have sugar free gum to chew on?

Which slimfast are you using? How do they taste? I am not liking the powder taste... lol. I too want to do it and be able to say I didn't cheat. I guess the boards and I will be spending ALOT of time together the next few days as I transition from food to shakes... I can do it!!! Good luck!:whoo:

Ok so I started this morning, made my first shake. Now my doctor gave me recipes to make my own Protein shakes. I like the flavor, its tutti fruiti. Now here is my problem... the poweder tastes well powedery. I bought the soy Protein powder. I am wondering if the whey protein tastes better... I have never been a soy person. I admit it though the soy was so much cheaper at trader joes. Sams Club has a great deal on whey protein but its flavored... Ok so any ideas... help... sugesstions... encouragement??? Thanks guys.

Deanna thanks for the enouragement, I hope you are right! But I am gonna believe you on this one!

I am on NO way sticking up for your friend, but she is ignorant to the whole picture here, she doesn't realize the good part out weighs the possiblity of complications. Unfortunately most friends won't sit and do the research like we have. I have a friend, with a much higher BMI and medical conditions far worse than mine who thinks i am nuts. I gave her one of the books I have and then she said ok I believe you and support you. She never read the book mind you just knew if I went that far that I did my research. Now the best part... my closest friend who is planning on going with me to MX for srugery thinks i am nuts... well my cousin had a friend who is nurse and went to MX to Dr Ortiz on friday of last week... now if a nurse was willing to do it and in MX it has to be ok... now she is 100% behind me... go figure. Don't let others worry you, people judge but that is their problem don't let judegments get in your way. XOXO

I am not sure about payments, I know they said you could do the financing for the MX deal as well. I am paying all up front so I didn't look into the loans. Good luck.

Ok so I am just over two weeks away and supposed to start full liquids tomorrow. I have started protein shakes but keep finding myself saying well elt me get rid of all the cravings, or one last "real" meal. SO tonight is it... I am so scared that I won't stick to it. I have been trying to get rid of the temptations in the house... I want to succeed. Has anyone else freaked out with starting the pre-op liquid diet?? :help::cry:wacko::heh: